Craft Beverages in Saratoga County, NY: Best Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries
Saratoga County is rife with highly rated, diverse, and even award-winning wineries, breweries, and distilleries. No matter your craft beverage preference, Saratoga satisfies. See a list of craft beverage producers below, along with a quick snapshot of each one's background, what to expect, and suggestions on what to sample. Grab your favorite designated driver and sample your way through the County. Cheers!
Saratoga Area Wineries: Where to Sip & Savor
A note to know: A winery produces wine, while a vineyard grows grapes. Some Saratoga businesses below do both!
Fossil Stone Farms (Greenfield Center)
Background: This second-generation, family-owned farm added their vineyard to the mix in 2014.
What to Know: Fossil Stone Farms doesn't just grow three different kinds of grapes and produce spectacular wine - they also board horses, making them quintessentially Saratoga!
Wines to Taste: Marquette, Oak Aged Marquette, Rose, and La Crescent
Galway Rock Vineyard & Winery (Ballston Lake)
Background: Originally founded in a two-stall garage in Ballston Lake in 2014, Galway Rock Vineyard & Winery has grown since then, opening a tasting room in 2019.
What to Know: If you like wine with a view you'll love their patio, where you can enjoy a scenic landscape that includes Vermont's Green Mountains. They describe their wines as "vibrant and food-friendly."
Wines to Taste: Merlot Malbec, Falling Rock Red, and Rose
Saratoga Winery (Saratoga Springs)
Background: If you notice an Adirondack-y atmosphere at the winery, there's a good reason. The Nimmo family combines their love of the Adirondacks, Saratoga, and wine in their facility and products. Saratoga Winery's doors opened in 2009.
What to Know: The address may be Saratoga Springs, but their charming location is just off the beaten path on Route 29 heading towards Rock City Falls. They have a lovely outdoor space and a rustic, indoor tasting room. Come by when they have live music, and order the wood-fired pizza!
Wines to Taste: Bloodroot Melomel, No Way Rose, Saratoga White, and Whitney's White
Saratoga Area Breweries: Where to Grab a Great Local Pint
Active Ingredient Brewing Company (Malta)
Background: The forces behind this brewing company started out with homebrew kits, then branched out from there into the robust commercial business Active Ingredient Brewing Company is today.
What to Know: Active Ingredient Brewing Company, like a few others on this list, has near-perfect Google ratings. Although their beers are the crown jewel of the brewery, their stellar reviews reveal that folks can't get enough of their cider, tacos, and carnitas as well.
Beers to Try: Freudian Sips (Kolsch Style Ale), Camp Catalyst (Robust Porter Infused With Cold Brew Coffee), and Mom Genes (Double New England Style IPA)
Artisanal Brew Works (Saratoga Springs)
Background: Run by two high school teachers, Artisanal Brew Works is a microbrewery that specializes in artisanal-style ales made from local ingredients.
What to Know: Artisanal Brew Works is another super highly rated brewery, and they're primarily known for their New England-style IPAs. Although, they offer sours, fruited ales, stouts, and Belgians as well.
Beers to Try: Daily Triple IPA, Picture Day IPA "Mom," and Warheads Watermelon Sour Ale
Bound by Fate Brewing (Schuylerville)
Background: The family behind this brewery talked about owning one for a decade before making the dream a reality in 2018.
What to Know: Bound by Fate Brewing shared the honor of Best Collaboration Beer with Unified Beer Works (also on this list!) at the 2021 New York State Craft Beer Competition for their beer Friends From Other Places #1, an India Pale Ale. Their positive reviews tout the friendly and knowledgeable staff, the welcoming atmosphere, and of course, the beers.
Beers to Try: Pina Pinata, Bettina, Boat Bridge, and Bronzer
Common Roots Brewing Company (South Glens Falls)
Background: The concept for this brewery was born in 2005 (as that's when the owners brewed their first beer together), and then Common Roots Brewing Company opened its doors in 2014. In 2019, they suffered a devastating fire. With the community fundraising and rallying behind them, they were able to move into a new space in 2020.
What to Know: Common Roots Brewing Company is rocking and rolling with their new facility, expanded taproom, and beer garden. Their beers mix old-world traditions with new-world inspirations.
Beers to Try: Bright Light (Double IPA), Party Shirt Fridays (Fruited IPA), Tasteful Deception (Kettle Sour), and Common Roots Lager (German-Style Hells Lager)
Dancing Grain Farm Brewery (Gansevoort)
Background: Dancing Grain Farm Brewery is a second-generation family farm that has evolved to expand the grain operation the business started on. They aim to bring patrons the most environmentally friendly, freshest beers possible.
What to Know: More than 90% of the ingredients in their beer comes from their own fields. They not only have great beer, but a great place to enjoy them, while watching the sunset.
Beers to Try: Total Dankness (Hazy DIPA), Crop Top (Hazy IPA), Field Day (Experimental Kolsch)
Druthers Brewing Company (Saratoga Springs)
Background: Although there are also locations in Albany and Schenectady, the Saratoga Springs Druthers Brewing Company is the original, which opened in 2012.
What to Know: Druthers is one of those hotspots in this list that serves up craveable food along with fabulous craft beverages. Try the mac and cheese or beer cheese pretzel dip! When it comes to the beer, Druthers knows everyone's tastes vary, and they don't mind experimenting a little - as long as they use the best ingredients.
Beers to Try: Golden Rule Blonde, All-In IPA, and Golden Rule Pilsner
Hank Hudson Brewing Company (Mechanicville)
Background: Hank Hudson Brewing Company was founded by two high school teachers who took a craft brewing course at SUNY Schenectady.
What to Know: Visitors to the brewery are encouraged to not only taste, but become immersed in the beer-making process. Hank Hudson Brewing Company is located at the Fairways of Halfmoon Golf Club, and you get to enjoy your beverage with scenic views.
Beers to Try: Two Buttons Deep Blueberry Ale, Leggett's Lager, and Wheelhouse Blonde Ale
Speckled Pig Brewing (Ballston Spa)
Background: A newer craft business beverage to the Saratoga scene, Speckled Pig Brewing opened in the summer of 2022. They're the first brewery in the Village of Ballston Spa to serve their own beer on tap and to create their products on-site.
What to Know: The owners' vision for the business is to bring the neighborhood together, to be a place where friends and family can gather for great drinks and conversations, and to build memories. They also have wood-fired pizza!
Beers to Try: Restitution (hazy New England IPA), Midnight Dappler NEIPA, Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
Tree House Brewing (Saratoga Springs)
Background: A highly anticipated addition to the Saratoga craft beer scene, Tree House Brewing opened its doors in summer 2025. This Massachusetts-based brewery is nationally renowned for its hazy IPAs and rich stouts, and the Saratoga Springs location marks their first New York taproom. The brewery is located near Saratoga Performing Arts Center, making it a perfect pre- or post-show stop.
What to Know: Tree House Saratoga offers a thoughtfully designed space that blends indoor comfort with outdoor ambiance. The setting includes scenic patio seating, sweeping views of the grounds, and a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.
Beers to Try: Julius (New England IPA), Bright (American Pale Ale), and That’s What She Said (Milk Stout)
Whitman Brewing (Saratoga Springs)
Background: Located in the old Saratogian building downtown, Walt & Whitman Brewing opened in December, 2019.
What to Know: Walt & Whitman is a cafe as well as a brewery, and they're all about sensational beverages and great conversation. In March, 2021, they were named one of the top 10 best new breweries in the country by USA Today.
Beers to Try: Used Jet Ski, Time Is Money, and Untamed Lands.
Saratoga Springs Distilleries: Where to Find Unique Spirits & Cocktails
Saratoga Courage Distillery (Greenfield Center)
Background: Founded in 2013, Saratoga Courage Distillery creates locally made products that compete with the finest spirits from across the planet.
What to Know: As pharmacists, the owners have mastered attention to detail, and they utilize an all-natural water supply drawn from a well on the property to create clean, high-quality spirits. Saratoga Courage Distillery is home to the Pick Six Vodka, an award-winning vodka that has earned its own near-cult following.
Spirits to Sip: Pick Six Vodka, Devils Den Apple Pie Moonshine, and Devils Den Strawberry Jam Moonshine
Cooperstown Distillery (Saratoga Springs)
Background: Founded in 2013 in Cooperstown, NY, Cooperstown Distillery expanded to Saratoga Springs in 2020, bringing its passion for artisanal spirits to a vibrant new tasting room, retail shop, and bar in the heart of downtown.
What to Know: This location blends upstate charm with elevated tasting experiences, offering handcrafted cocktails, bottle sales, and an inviting space to explore small-batch spirits. Known for combining Old World techniques with modern innovation, Cooperstown Distillery crafts spirits that are as rich in story as they are in flavor.
Spirits to Sip: Beanball Bourbon, Saratoga Revolutionary Rye, Cooperstown Select Straight Rye Whiskey, and Cooperstown Select Distiller’s Reserve.
Yankee Distillers (Clifton Park)
Background: Founded in 2015, Yankee Distillers distills all their products in small batches at the Clifton Park facility using custom Italian-made copper stills.
What to Know: They have almost perfect Google reviews, with folks raving about the whiskey, the vodka, and the cocktails. Yankee Distillers is a New York Farm Distillery, and they use 100% unmalted New York State grain for their bourbon, rye, and vodka (the requirement is 75%, but they go all the way!).
Spirits to Sip: Eleven Lakes Vodka, Rye Whiskey, and Bourbon Whiskey
Visit one or more of the above Saratoga County craft beverage producers and maybe you'll find a new go-to drink! Just don't visit all of them in one day - although, you can visit a few if you take a tour bus.
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